Status: 07/20/2022 05:01 a.m
Russian President Putin has met his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in Tehran. There, the three-way constellation wanted to demonstrate unity – but differences became clear when it came to Syria.
Many in the West would say: The bad guys were among themselves – yesterday in Tehran. Russian President Putin, who has attacked Ukraine, his Iranian counterpart Raisi and Supreme Leader Khamenei, whose country is said to be building a nuclear bomb, and troubled NATO partner Erdogan.
But it was already evident yesterday morning that there is not pure harmony between them. There Khamenei receives Erdogan. The Turkish President wants his partners in the Astana format, as the three-way constellation of Russia, Iran and Turkey on Syria is called, an OK for his new offensive in northern Syria.
Nothing will come of it. According to Khamenei’s website, he told him that such a military operation would be harmful to Syria, Turkey and the region. Erdogan doesn’t seem to be impressed. In the evening he declared in Tehran, “We expect our Astana partners to honestly support our efforts to ensure stability in Syria.”
Disagreement over Turkish military action in northern Syria
Erdogan and Khamenei are sitting at a distance on sparse wooden chairs, the only decoration is a picture of the former revolutionary leader Khomeini on the wall and an Iranian flag – not a Turkish one – at least not to be seen. A few hours later, Russian President Putin is sitting in the same unadorned setting.
As with previous offensives in northern Syria, Erdogan wants to take action against the Kurdish militia YPG, which he believes to be the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdish PKK in Turkey. Both are dangerous terrorist organizations for him.
In the evening, in the group of three, he complained: “We keep hearing from you friends that you appreciate Turkey’s security concerns. I’m also grateful for that. But words alone don’t heal wounds. That the terrorist organizations PKK and YPG are at least 30 kilometers away from the Holding the Turkish border is a requirement that was agreed some time ago.” The Turkish President does not believe that this requirement has been met and insists on an attack.
Putin wants to demonstrate unity
But Putin has also announced through his spokesman that they reject a Turkish military operation in northern Syria. He himself is much more forgiving: “I am confident that our countries will work together more closely when it comes to eliminating the last hotbeds of international terrorism on Syrian territory. The presence of the terrorist militia IS and other extremist groups in Syria must be ended forever will.”
He does not name the YPG. For Putin, it seems important to demonstrate unity despite the differences. After all, the West is trying to isolate him for his attack on Ukraine. So it suits him to show up with a NATO member. And Erdogan even explicitly calls him “dear friend” at one point.
Iranian President Raisi emphasized what was later found in a similar form in a final statement on the Tehran tripartite summit. It is necessary to safeguard the territorial integrity and integrity, respect for national sovereignty and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic, it said. “The fate of this country can only be determined by its people themselves in the Syrian-Syrian dialogue and without foreign interference.”
Gazprom invests billions in Iran
Various agreements are more tangible, for example in economic matters, which Turkey and Iran sign. And Putin brings the good news of a hefty investment to Tehran. The Russian company Gazprom wants to develop Iranian gas and oil fields with 40 billion dollars.
Although – soon there will no longer be dollars. Khamenei demands that the US currency should slowly disappear from world trade. Iran demonstratively introduced the ruble for foreign exchange brokers yesterday. The signal from the three in Tehran to the west is clear: we can do without you.